セルフサービス

セルフサービス describes a system where customers serve themselves instead of being waited on by staff. From English "self-service."

Forms

Often shortened to セルフ in casual speech: セルフのガソリンスタンド (self-service gas station), セルフレジ (self-checkout).

Common collocations

• セルフサービスの店(みせ): self-service shop
• セルフサービス方式(ほうしき): self-service system
• セルフサービスのレジ / セルフレジ: self-checkout register
• セルフサービスの食堂(しょくどう): self-service cafeteria

Usage

• ガソリンスタンド: gas stations (increasingly common since 1998)
• 食堂(しょくどう) / カフェテリア: cafeterias
• ドリンクバー: drink bar (self-service drink station at restaurants)
• セルフうどん: self-service udon shops (popular in 讃岐(さぬき))

Common patterns

Can be used as a no-adjective: セルフサービスの店(みせ) (a self-service shop).